What is Dispersion?

Dispersion is the process of uniformly distributing solid particles throughout a liquid medium. Unlike dissolution, the solid phase retains its identity — pigments in paint, active pharmaceutical ingredients in suspensions, or fillers in polymer compounds are all examples of dispersions. Achieving a stable dispersion requires three sequential steps: wetting of the powder surface, de-agglomeration of particle clusters, and stabilisation against re-agglomeration.

High Shear De-agglomeration

Dry powders naturally form agglomerates held together by van der Waals forces, electrostatic charges, and trapped air. A conventional stirrer cannot generate enough energy density to break these clusters. High shear rotor–stator devices apply localised energy at the particle level — shear rates exceeding 40 000 s⁻¹ — to overcome inter-particle forces, strip out entrapped air, and wet every primary particle with the surrounding liquid. The outcome is a smooth, lump-free dispersion with maximum active-surface exposure, which is critical for product efficacy in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations.